Thursday, November 08, 2012

Prophecy Confirms Who Jesus Is

Look to the prophets for proof about Jesus.


1 Peter 1:9-12  The reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your souls.  10  This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you.   

11  They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when He told them in advance about Christ's suffering and His great glory afterward.   

12  They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.

Salvation by grace is here! Peter told this good news everywhere that he went and to everybody that would listen. This good news had been anticipated for hundreds of years has finally come to pass. People were having their doubts but the events that had just recently happened in Jerusalem were the fulfillment of prophecy.

God had revealed a lot of the details about the coming Messiah long before it happened. The events surrounding Jesus birth, lifetime and his death authenticate his identity. If you just look at the prophecies concerning Jesus birth in Matthew chapter one and two you will see significant details that prove that the Messiah had arrived. Starting with the proof of Jesus lineage as a descendant of King David, Matthew continues to tell us that Jesus was born of a virgin, he would be born in Bethlehem, called out of Egypt and he grew up in Nazareth. (Matthew 1:1-2:23)

Peter told the Jews

Acts 3:17-18, 24  "Friends, I realize that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance. 18 But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had foretold about the Messiah--that He must suffer these things. 24 Starting with Samuel, every prophet spoke about what is happening today."
After Peter and John healed a man at the temple gate Peter jumped at the opportunity to tell everybody that was there about the source of the healing. The power of the Holy Spirit gave Peter the ability to fearlessly explain the events that had just happened a few days ago. The people that killed Jesus were right there when he accused them of killing God. (Acts 3:15)

Peter told the Gentiles

Acts 10:42-43 "And He ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the One appointed by God to be the Judge of all--the living and the dead. 43 He is the One all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in Him will have their sins forgiven through His name."

Peter didn't want to go to Cornelius' house but God didn't give him much of a choice. Peter needed to learn a lesson about the Gentiles being included in the good news of the gospel, he would tell them about the prophecies that Jesus fulfilled. (Acts 10:34-35)

There should not be any doubt about who Jesus is or why he came to earth and died, the prophets make it crystal clear, Jesus claims to be God should be indisputable.